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MSP430FR5969: Firmware reset by watchdog timer

Ronald Ruizenaar
Prodigy 140 points
Part Number: MSP430FR5969

Hello Support,

I have a question about resetting the MSP430 using the watchdog timer. We have a product in the market for 2 years and at one location (near an airport) the watchdog timer generates an overflow (probably due to firmware hang-up) which causes a firmware reset. We found out that this event is caused by an external disturbance (probably radar at 1GHz). In 30% of the watchdog resets the device does not start up correctly resulting in a "dead" system. I need to solve this problem!

My question is, should a firmware reset always recover the controller? Or are there situations that are not recoverable by a firmware reset?

Regards, Ronald

 

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 49692 points

    Hi Ronald,

    Thanks for your detailed post. In general, the watchdog timer (WDT) will reset the device when the firmware hangs, since the WDT isn't being kicked (counter reset periodically). However, the reset can be caused by things other than the WDT. You can confirm if the reset has been caused by the WDT by checking the SYSRSTIV register. See Table 6-2 in the datasheet for the values corresponding with the appropriate interrupt.

    Since you're suspecting an external disturbance, I'd make sure the interference isn't causing an over-voltage condition on supply or signal pins, triggering the RST signal, etc. from another device connected to the MSP430. I'd start by removing other components on the board until you notice the issue doesn't occur. I'm concerned about the devices that don't start up correctly afterwards. Can you connect to these devices via JTAG (connect to running target) to see what code is being executed or if JTAG communication is even possible?

    Regards,

    James

    MSP Customer Applications

  • 0 in reply to James Evans
    Prodigy 140 points

    Hi James,

    Thanks for the detailed answer! You are right, I'm not sure it is the watchdog timer causing the reset! The problem is that the failure only occurs at that typical location in Costa Rica (about once a week). There are 3 products place in that area (about 500 meter distance in between the products) and all three product suffer the same problem! Other projects (same products, same settings) are working now for 1 to 2 years without any problems! That is why I'm certain about the external disturbance and this makes it difficult to find the root cause! Anyway I will add checking the SYSRSTIV register!

    We did some conducted immunity tests for the cable (150kHz to 230MHz) and radiated immunity tests (80MHz and 6Ghz) and found some sensitivity at 1GHz to 1.3GHz. Not convincingly, but one out of 6 devices was reset twice!

    Can you confirm that a firmware reset by watchdog should work under all conditions? Or can there be situations which can only be solved by a hardware reset or even a power on reset? If a watch dog reset should be able to recover the system, I could spend more time checking the firmware!

    Thanks,

    Ronald

  • 0 in reply to Ronald Ruizenaar
    TI__Mastermind 49692 points

    The watchdog timer should work normally, but I found a watchdog-related errata in the erratasheet, WDG5. Basically, an active WDT does not prevent the device from entering LPMx.5, which turns off the WDT. I'm not sure if you're entering one of these modes or not, but I wanted to point it out.

    Regards,

    James

    MSP Customer Applications

  • 0 in reply to James Evans
    Prodigy 80 points
    I am having MSP430 FR5969 kit , while debugging it shows an error stating that my device is not supported even after having its compatible IAR workbench version so what should i do now????
  • 0 in reply to James Evans
    Prodigy 140 points

    I'm not using the LPMx.5 mode, so I can eliminate this as failure! If you think a watchdog timer and reset should work under normal conditions I will put more effort in the firmware after a software reset.

    Thanks for your help!

    Regards,

    Ronald 

  • 0 in reply to James Evans
    Prodigy 80 points

    Hi support,
    I am having a problem while debugging the code into my msp430fr5969 device it says that my device is not supported. I am using IAR embedded workbench version 5.60

    Regards,

    Palash

  • 0 in reply to Palash Dhote
    TI__Mastermind 49692 points
    Hi Palash,

    If you are not working with Ronald on his issue, please start a new thread for your issue.

    Regards,

    James

    MSP Customer Applications
  • 0 in reply to James Evans
    Prodigy 80 points

    how to start a new thread?

  • 0 in reply to Palash Dhote
    TI__Mastermind 49692 points

    When you're in the MSP Low-Power Microcontroller Forum, you can click the "New" button in the upper right of your screen.

    Regards,

    James

    MSP Customer Applications

  • 0 in reply to Ronald Ruizenaar
    TI__Mastermind 49692 points
    Hi Ronald,

    Were you able to figure out the issue?

    Regards,

    James

    MSP Customer Applications
  • 0 in reply to James Evans
    Prodigy 140 points

    Hi James,

    Not yet! We are trying to reproduce the problem in the lab (seems to be difficult). If I'm able to reproduce the problem, I also can find out if the watchdog timer is generating the reset or not.

    Regards,

    Ronald

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